Data generating apparatus, data generating method, and recording medium

ABSTRACT

A data generating apparatus and a data generating method generate imposition data for imposing a plurality of pages on a print medium. A recording medium stores therein a program which enables a computer to function as an apparatus for generating such imposition data. After imposition data have been converted from grid data into fold data, trials are performed to fold a hypothetical print medium based on the converted fold data, so that pages, which are superimposed by folding the hypothetical print medium, have sequential page numbers and are oriented in one direction. Results of the trials are acquired as fold information for folding an actual print medium.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2012-154661 filed on Jul. 10, 2012, thecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a data generating apparatus and a datagenerating method for generating imposition data for imposing aplurality of pages on print mediums, as well as to a recording mediumstoring therein a program for enabling a computer to perform function asa means for generating such imposition data.

2. Description of the Related Art

According to a bookbinding process including a printing process, imagesrepresenting a plurality of pages of a book are printed on large-sizeprint mediums, which are then folded over themselves into signatures bya folding machine. The signatures are cut into folios, which arestitched into a book. Prior to performing the printing process, animposing process is carried out to generate imposition data forallocating or imposing a plurality of pages on the print mediums.

Japanese Patent No. 2898525 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent PublicationNo. 2011-017938A (hereinafter referred to as “JP2011-017938A”) discloseconventional imposing processes.

More specifically, Japanese Patent No. 2898525 discloses a process inwhich, even if plural imposition data are mixed together for producing asingle book that contains pages of different sizes, the imposition datafor the book are managed in a unified way, so that the imposition datacan automatically be imposed on designated signatures and folios.

JP2011-017938A discloses a process in which, in the case that aplurality of pages are imposed on a single print medium, a plurality offold line candidates are displayed on a display screen. Each time thatone of the displayed fold line candidates is designated, a next foldline candidate is displayed on the display screen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In terms of the data format thereof, imposition data for imposing aplurality of pages on print mediums are classified into grid data andfold data. Grid data comprise data that define positions of a pluralityof pages imposed on print mediums, page numbers of the pages, andorientations of the pages. Fold data comprise data that define thepositions of fold lines about which print mediums are folded intosignatures, directions (folding directions) in which print mediums arefolded about the fold lines, and a folding sequence.

Heretofore, since pre-press (imposition, etc.), press (printing), andpost-press (bookbinding) processes have not been interlinked, it hasbeen customary to produce signatures by repeating a process of printingan image based on grid data on a print medium, followed by folding theprint medium into two sheets and rotating the sheet. Therefore, such aprocess has been carried out manually.

In recent years, printing apparatus have been developed to the pointwhere JDF (Job Definition Format) data are exchanged between theprinting apparatus to interlink pre-press, press, and post-pressprocesses for automated and systematized workflows. Using JDF data, asignature can easily be produced by printing an image based on fold dataon a print medium, and then folding the print medium based on the folddata with a folding machine.

JDF-linked systems are required to meet potential needs for printingimages on print mediums to produce signatures therefrom, based on griddata that have been generated on conventional JDF-unlinked systems. Ifan imposing process is carried out on a hypothetical print mediumdisplayed on a display screen, the user finds it easier to generate griddata by allocating positions of a plurality of pages, page numbers, andpage orientations, rather than generating fold data by selecting thepositions of fold lines, folding directions, and a folding sequence. Inorder for a JDF-linked system to be able to supply a print medium to afolding machine to produce a signature, it is necessary to convertimposition data from grid data into fold data.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a data generatingapparatus, a data generating method, and a recording medium, which makeit possible to produce a signature easily from a print medium byconverting imposition data from grid data into fold data.

The present invention is concerned with a data generating apparatus anda data generating method, which generate imposition data for imposing aplurality of pages on a print medium. The present invention also isconcerned with a recording medium storing therein a program that enablesa computer to function as a means for generating such imposition data.

According to the present invention, there is provided a data generatingapparatus having a fold data converter, a folding trial conductor, and afold information acquirer. According to the present invention, therealso is provided a data generating method having a first step, a secondstep, and a third step. According to the present invention, therefurther is provided a recording medium storing therein a program thatenables a computer to perform functions of converting grid data intofold data, performing folding trials, and acquiring fold information.

More specifically, the fold data converter, the first step, and themeans for converting grid data into fold data convert fold data definingpositions of pages, page numbers of the pages, and orientations of thepages, as imposition data, into fold data defining positions of foldlines about which the print medium is folded into a signature, foldingdirections, and a folding sequence.

The folding trial conductor, the second step, and the means forperforming folding trials attempt to fold a hypothetical print medium,which simulates the print medium, based on the fold data, so that pagessuperposed by folding the print medium have sequential page numbers andare oriented in one direction.

The fold information acquirer, the third step, and the means foracquiring fold information acquire a result of folding trial eventsperformed to successfully fold the hypothetical print medium into asignature, as fold information representing the positions of fold linesabout which the print medium is folded into a signature, foldingdirections, and a folding sequence.

According to the present invention, imposition data can automatically beconverted from grid data into fold data. Therefore, the user can performvarious processes including an imposing process, a bookbinding process,etc., without realizing different types of imposition data, i.e., griddata and fold data. Since imposition data can automatically be convertedfrom grid data into fold data, such data are made compatible with eachother.

If the folding trial conductor attempts to fold the hypothetical printmedium using converted fold data, and has successfully folded thehypothetical print medium into a signature, the fold informationacquirer acquires the trial result as fold information of the fold data.Therefore, actual print mediums can efficiently be folded intosignatures according to the acquired fold information. In other words,in a case where the fold data are supplied to a folding machine, thefolding machine is made capable of folding the print mediumsautomatically.

Conversion of imposition data from grid data into fold data makesprinting and bookbinding processes including a job folding process moreefficient. Even if grid data are generated on conventional JDF-unlinkedsystems, the grid data can be acquired and converted into fold data inorder to produce desired signatures from the print mediums.

According to the present invention, the following functions (1) through(5) may be performed.

(1) The folding trial conductor determines that the signature cannot beproduced if the pages superposed by folding the print medium do not havesequential page numbers or are not oriented in one direction in a casewhere the folding trial conductor attempts to fold the hypotheticalprint medium. As a consequence, it is possible to prevent print mediumsfrom being wasted due to a failure of the folding process performed by afolding machine.

(2) The hypothetical print medium includes the fold lines and can befolded a plurality of times about the fold lines into the signature. Inaddition, the folding trial conductor identifies positions of fold linesand folding directions for maximizing a total number of superposed pageshaving sequential page numbers each time that the hypothetical printmedium is folded. Consequently, print mediums can reliably andefficiently be turned into signatures based on identified fold lines andfolding directions.

(3) Each time that the hypothetical print medium is folded, the foldingtrial conductor identifies positions of fold lines and foldingdirections for maximizing the total number of superposed pages byattempting to fold the hypothetical print medium about all of the foldlines that are available, or stops trying to fold the hypothetical printmedium about remaining ones of the fold lines at the time the positionsof fold lines and folding directions for maximizing the total number ofsuperposed pages having sequential page numbers are identified.

If trials are performed to fold the hypothetical print medium about allof the fold lines that are available, then it is possible to reliablyidentify the positions of the fold lines, together with foldingdirections for maximizing the total number of superposed pages havingsequential page numbers. If trials for folding the hypothetical printmedium about the remaining fold lines are canceled at the time that thepositions of the fold lines and the folding directions are identifiedfor maximizing the total number of superposed pages having sequentialpage numbers, then the time required to perform the imposing process canbe shortened.

(4) The hypothetical print medium includes the fold lines and can befolded a plurality of times about the fold lines into the signature. Inaddition, the folding trial conductor attempts to fold the hypotheticalprint medium about all of the fold lines that are available, andthereafter identifies positions of fold lines, folding directions, and afolding sequence for maximizing a total number of superposed pageshaving sequential page numbers. Consequently, print mediums can reliablyand efficiently be turned into signatures based on identified fold linesand folding directions.

(5) The data generating apparatus may further comprise a trial resultindicator for externally indicating the result of folding trial eventsperformed on the hypothetical print medium by the folding trialconductor. The trial result indicator allows the user to grasp theresult of folding trials performed by the folding trial conductor, i.e.,whether a folding trial performed on the hypothetical print medium hasbeen successful or not. If the trial result indicator includes a displayunit, then since the result of the folding trials can be displayed as animage, the user can easily grasp the result simply by observing thedisplayed image.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following description whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferredembodiment of the present invention is shown by way of illustrativeexample.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a printing system incorporating a datagenerating apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the data generating apparatusshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process of converting imposition data fromgrid data into fold data;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing grid data accumulated in a grid dataaccumulator shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a list of fold line candidates accumulatedin a fold line candidate accumulator shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a list of fold line solutions accumulated ina fold data accumulator shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7A is a view showing the manner in which a plurality of pages areimposed on a front side of a hypothetical print medium;

FIG. 7B is a view showing the manner in which a plurality of pages areimposed on a reverse side of the hypothetical print medium;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are views showing the manner in which the hypotheticalprint mediums illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B are folded;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are views showing the manner in which the foldedhypothetical print mediums illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B are foldedagain;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are views showing the manner in which the foldedhypothetical print mediums illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B are foldedinto signatures;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are views showing hypothetical print mediums for whichit is impossible to convert grid data into fold data;

FIG. 12A is a view showing the manner in which eight pages are imposedrespectively on eight print mediums; and

FIG. 12B is a view showing the manner in which the eight pagesillustrated in FIG. 12A are imposed on a single print medium.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A data generating apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention in relation to data generating methods and programs,which are carried out by the data generating apparatus, will bedescribed in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Configuration of Data Generating Apparatus]

FIG. 1 schematically shows a printing system 10 incorporating a datagenerating apparatus 20 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system 10 basically includesa platemaking site 12, a printing site 14, a bookbinding site 15, adatabase server 16, and a LAN 18. The platemaking site 12 includes adata generating apparatus 20 and a proof press 22.

The data generating apparatus 20 generates page-specific edit data (pagedescription data) expressed in a page description language (hereinafterreferred to as “PDL”), e.g., PDL data in color channels representingfour colors (C, M, Y, K) or three colors (R, G, B).

PDL refers to a language for describing image information includingformat information, position information, and color information(including density information) of characters, graphics, etc., in a“page” that serves as an output unit for printing, displaying, etc. Pagedescription languages include, for example, PDF which stands for“Portable Document Format” and is prescribed according toIS032000-1:2008, PostScript (registered trademark) of Adobe Systems, andXPS (XML Paper Specification).

The data generating apparatus 20 performs a desired image processingtechnique such as a preflight process, a color conversion process, or alayout process on page-specific edit data. The data generating apparatus20 then converts the processed page-specific edit data intoraster-format data such as bitmap data or TIFF data, and sends theconverted raster-format data as printing data to the proof press 22.

The data generating apparatus 20 includes a main unit 26, a display unit(trial result indicator) 28, and an input assembly 30 including akeyboard 32 and a mouse 34. The mouse 34, which serves as a pointingdevice, may be replaced with a track pad or a track ball.

The proof press 22 is an output device for printing a proof 24 to beproofread. The proof press 22 may comprise a DDCP (Direct Digital ColorProofer), which is equivalent to an offset press in terms of printingcapabilities, an ink jet color proofer, a low-resolution color laserprinter (electrophotographic printer), an ink jet printer, or the like.

The database server 16 serves to save, update, and delete various datafiles required to produce a final print product FP. Such various datafiles include material data files (content data files) from a productioncompany, not shown, proof data files, platemaking data files, job ticketfiles (e.g., JDF files), ICC (International Color Consortium) profiles,color sample data files, etc.

The LAN 18 is constructed according to communication standards such asEthernet (registered trademark) or the like. The platemaking site 12,the printing site 14, and the database server 16 are interconnected bythe LAN 18. If the platemaking site 12 and the printing site 14 aregeographically spaced remotely from each other, then printing plate datacan be exchanged through the LAN 18 between the platemaking site 12 andthe printing site 14.

The printing site 14 has an image processor for performing a desiredimage processing technique on the printing plate data, a plate setterfor producing printing plates, and an offset press for printing desiredimages on various mediums in order to produce prints, i.e., a pluralityof jobs 36. The platesetter and the offset press may be replaced with adigital press, which is capable of producing prints directly fromprinting plate data.

The bookbinding site 15 includes various devices for performingproduction processes including a surface treatment process, a sheetfolding process, a collating process, a binding process, a cuttingprocess, a casemaking process, etc., on a plurality of jobs 36 suppliedfrom the printing site 14. In a case where such production processes aresuccessively performed on the jobs 36, the final print product FP, e.g.,the illustrated casebound book, is produced.

FIG. 2 illustrates in functional block form the data generatingapparatus 20 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the main unit 26includes a controller 60, a communication I/F 62, a display controller64, a print I/F 66, and a memory 68 (recording medium).

The communication I/F 62 is an interface for sending electric signals toand receiving electric signals from various external apparatus. Forexample, the communication I/F 62 is capable of acquiring variousmaterial data provided by the non-illustrated production company. Thecommunication I/F 62 also is capable of acquiring various items ofinformation, such as printing plate data, ICC profiles, etc., which aremanaged and saved in the database server 16.

The display controller 64 comprises a control circuit for controllingthe display unit 28 under the control of the controller 60. Morespecifically, in a case where the display controller 64 outputs adisplay control signal to the display unit 28 via a non-illustrated I/F,the display unit 28 is energized and made capable of displaying variousimages.

The print I/F 66 is an interface for sending electric signalsrepresentative of printing data to the proof press 22. The proof press22 prints a desired proof 24 based on electric signals sent from theprint I/F 66.

The memory 68 stores programs and data, which are required for thecontroller 60 to control various components. The memory 68 includes afold line candidate accumulator 68 a, a grid data accumulator 68 b, anda fold data accumulator 68 c.

The fold line candidate accumulator 68 a accumulates candidates for foldlines (hereinafter referred to as “fold line candidates”) about which ajob 36 is folded with a plurality of pages imposed thereon to produce asignature in the bookbinding site 15.

Imposition data for imposing a plurality of pages on a job 36 areaccumulated respectively in the grid data accumulator 68 b and the folddata accumulator 68 c. The grid data accumulator 68 b and the fold dataaccumulator 68 c accumulate the imposition data in different formats forimposing pages on the same job 36.

The grid data accumulator 68 b accumulates grid data for definingpositions of a plurality of pages imposed on jobs 36, page numbers ofthe pages, and orientations of the pages. The fold data accumulator 68 caccumulates fold data, which define positions of fold lines about whichthe jobs 36 are folded into signatures, directions (folding directions)in which the jobs 36 are folded about the fold lines, and a foldingsequence.

As described later, since the controller 60 is capable of convertingimposition data from grid data into fold data, the grid data and thefold data are made compatible with each other.

The controller 60 comprises a processor such as a CPU (CentralProcessing Unit) or the like. The controller 60 performs variousfunctions as an imposition data generator 70, an imposition dataconverter 72, and a display data generator 74, by reading and executingprograms stored in the memory 68.

The imposition data generator 70 generates page-specific edit data frommaterial data representative of characters, graphics, patterns, photos,etc., and also generates imposition data, e.g., job tickets, forimposing pages onto sheets of a given size according to a designatedbinding method and a designated sheet folding method. The display unit28 displays on a screen thereof a hypothetical print medium 100 (seeFIGS. 7A and 7B), which simulates a job 36. In a case where the useroperates the input assembly 30 to designate positions of a plurality ofpages, page numbers, and page orientations, the imposition datagenerator 70 generates imposition data (grid data) depending on theinformation designated by the user. The generated grid data areaccumulated in the grid data accumulator 68 b.

The data generating apparatus 20 exchanges JDF data with other devicesin the printing system 10, thus providing an interlink between thedevices in the printing system 10 on the basis of the JDF data. Theimposition data generator 70 may also acquire grid data through the LAN18 or the like from conventional JDF-unlinked systems, and mayaccumulate the acquired grid data in the grid data accumulator 68 b.

The imposition data converter 72 includes a fold data converter 76, afolding trial conductor 78, and a fold information acquirer 80.

The fold data converter 76 reads grid data accumulated in the grid dataaccumulator 68 b, and converts the read grid data into fold data. Thefold data are accumulated in the fold line candidate accumulator 68 a.

The folding trial conductor 78 reads the fold data that is accumulatedin the fold line candidate accumulator 68 a, and attempts to fold ahypothetical print medium 100 (see FIGS. 7A and 7B), which simulates ajob 36. More specifically, based on the assumption that plural pages areimposed on the hypothetical print medium 100 and fold lines representedby the fold data are formed on the hypothetical print medium 100, thefolding trial conductor 78 attempts to fold the hypothetical printmedium 100 about the fold lines, thereby specifying positions of optimumfold lines about which the job 36 is folded into a signature, directions(folding directions) for folding the job 36 about the fold lines, and asequence (folding sequence) according to which the job 36 is folded.

If the folding trial conductor 78 finds that no signature can beproduced from the hypothetical print medium 100 by attempting to foldthe hypothetical print medium 100 about the fold lines based on the folddata, then the folding trial conductor 78 determines that the grid dataon which the fold data are based are erroneous.

If the folding trial conductor 78 is able to produce a signature byattempting to fold the hypothetical print medium 100, then the foldinformation acquirer 80 acquires the trial result as fold data (foldinformation) representing positions of optimum fold lines about whichthe job 36 actually is folded into a signature, the folding directions,and the folding sequence (an optimum solution to the folding trial). Thefold information acquirer 80 also accumulates the acquired fold data inthe fold data accumulator 68 c.

The printing system 10 supplies printing plate data based on the folddata (imposition data, fold information) accumulated in the fold dataaccumulator 68 c from the platemaking site 12, through the LAN 18, andto the printing site 14, thereby making the printing site 14 capable ofprinting jobs 36, and of producing signatures, based on the fold data.

The display data generator 74 generates various types of image data tobe displayed on the display unit 28. More specifically, the display datagenerator 74 acquires grid data from the imposition data generator 70,and generates images depending on the acquired grid data. The displaydata generator 74 also acquires various additional data, such as folddata from the fold data converter 76, the folding trial conductor 78, orthe fold information acquirer 80, and generates images depending on theacquired data.

The display controller 64 outputs display control signals to the displayunit 28 depending on images generated by the display data generator 74,thereby enabling the display unit 28 to display various images dependingon grid data or fold data. For example, the display unit 28 can displayan image representing a trial result, which is produced in a case wherethe folding trial conductor 78 attempts to fold a hypothetical printmedium 100, i.e., an image indicating that a signature can be produced,or an image indicating that a signature cannot be produced.

The display data generator 74 performs an RIP (Raster Image Processing)process on the acquired grid data or fold data (imposition data),thereby converting the grid data or the fold data into raster-formatdata (hereinafter referred to as “RIP-processed imposition data”). Morespecifically, the display data processor 74 places page-specific editdata in given data areas, adds mark information represented by markssuch as registration marks or the like to the page-specific edit data,and rasterizes the page-specific edit data together with the added markinformation, thereby producing RIP-processed imposition data.

[Operations of Data Generating Apparatus]

The data generating apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment isconfigured basically as described above. Operations of the datagenerating apparatus 20 will be described below with reference to FIGS.3 through 10B.

As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, it is assumed that eight pages are imposedon each of front and reverse sides of a hypothetical print medium 100depending on a single job 36. In addition, the hypothetical print medium100 is folded about fold lines 102A through 102G (see FIGS. 7A through9B).

The data generating apparatus 20 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) operates prior to aprinting process, which is carried out on the job 36 at the printingsite 14, and a bookbinding process, which is carried out at thebookbinding site 15. Therefore, the data generating apparatus 20hypothetically attempts to fold the hypothetical print medium 100 aboutthe fold lines 102A through 102G. As shown in FIG. 3, processing detailsof the steps of a process to convert imposition data from grid data intofold data, which include a folding trial, are displayed as necessary onthe display screen of the display unit 28. The process and the dataproduced thereby, as shown in FIGS. 3 through 10B, basically are carriedout and produced by the imposition data converter 72 of the datagenerating apparatus 20.

In step S1 (first step) shown in FIG. 3, the fold data converter 76reads grid data (see FIG. 4), which is accumulated as imposition data inthe grid data accumulator 68 b.

FIG. 4 shows positions of pages on the front side (FIG. 7A) and thereverse side (FIG. 7B) of the hypothetical print medium 100 shown inFIGS. 7A and 7B, page numbers of the pages, and orientations of thepages.

On the front side of the hypothetical print medium 100 shown in FIG. 7A,boundaries between the pages represent respective fold lines 102Athrough 102D. The pages shown in FIGS. 4 and 7A are allocatedrespectively to first through eighth areas 104 a through 104 h, whichrepresent respective pages.

In FIG. 7A, page numbers are shown in respective first through eighthareas 104 a through 104 h, and the orientations of the page numbersindicate the orientations of the pages. The term “REVERSED (DOWNWARD)”in FIG. 4 implies that the illustrated page numbers are orienteddownwardly, as indicated by pages 15, 2, 3, and 14 in FIG. 7A. The term“NORMAL (UPWARD)” in FIG. 4 implies that the illustrated page numbersare oriented upwardly, as indicated by pages 10, 7, 6, and 11 in FIG.7B. In FIG. 7A, the first through eighth areas 104 a through 104 h haverespective printing surface areas 106 a through 106 h.

The reverse side shown in FIG. 7B is a reversal of the front side of thehypothetical print medium 100 shown in FIG. 7A. Boundaries between thepages represent fold lines 102A through 102D, as is the case with thefront side shown in FIG. 7A. The pages shown in FIGS. 4 and 7B areallocated respectively to first through eighth areas 108 a through 108h, which represent respective pages. In FIG. 7B, the first througheighth areas 108 a through 108 h have respective printing surface areas110 a through 110 h. In FIG. 7B, page numbers also are shown inrespective first through eighth areas 108 a through 108 h, and theorientations of the page numbers indicate the orientations of the pages.

Using the grid data, which have been read, the fold data converter 76extracts boundaries between the pages, and accumulates the extractedboundaries as fold line candidates in the fold line candidateaccumulator 68 a.

In FIGS. 7A and 7B, since the fold lines 102A through 102D exist, thefold data converter 76 extracts the fold lines 102A through 102D as foldline candidates, and as shown in FIG. 5, accumulates the extracted foldlines 102A through 102D in the fold line candidate accumulator 68 a.

The fold data converter 76 also extracts fold types (peak and valleyfolds) on front and reverse sides about the fold lines 102A through102D. The fold data converter 76 also extracts page numbers of pagesthat opposite pages will contact or be superposed on if folded about thefold lines 102A through 102D. As shown in FIG. 5, the fold dataconverter 76 accumulates the extracted fold types and page numbers inthe fold line candidate accumulator 68 a.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the fold line candidate accumulator 68 aaccumulates therein, as fold line candidates, the fold lines 102Athrough 102D (indicated as A, B in FIG. 5), the sides (front and reversesides) that are folded about the fold lines 102A through 102D, and thefold types (peak and valley folds). More specifically, the fold dataconverter 76 converts the grid data into fold data that defines thepositions of the fold lines 102A through 102D about which the job 36 isfolded into a signature, directions (folding directions) about which thejob 36 is folded about the fold lines 102A through 102D, and a foldingsequence. The converted fold data is accumulated in the fold linecandidate accumulator 68 a.

The peak folds on the front side of the hypothetical print medium 100shown in FIG. 7A refer to folds which are made by folding the front sideabout the fold lines 102A through 102D in a direction away from theviewer in FIG. 7A. The valley folds on the front side of thehypothetical print medium 100 shown in FIG. 7A refer to folds which aremade by folding the front side about the fold lines 102A through 102D ina direction toward the viewer in FIG. 7A. The peak and valley folds onthe reverse side of the hypothetical print medium 100 shown in FIG. 7Bare similarly defined, except that “FIG. 7A” and “front” in the abovedescription concerning the peak and valley folds on the front side ofthe hypothetical print medium 100 are replaced with “FIG. 7B” and“reverse”, respectively.

In FIG. 5, fold types about the same fold line 102A on the front orreverse side also are accumulated in the fold line candidate accumulator68 a. However, if the front side is folded about the fold line 102A intoa peak fold, the reverse side is complementarily folded about the samefold line 102A into a valley fold, and if the front side is folded aboutthe fold line 102A into a valley fold, the reverse side iscomplementarily folded about the same fold line 102A into a peak fold.Consequently, the fold line candidate accumulator 68 a may accumulate,as fold line candidates, at least information concerning fold lines andfold types on either the front side or the reverse side.

In step S2 shown in FIG. 3, the folding trial conductor 78 sets to 0(zero) the maximum value (hereinafter referred to as a “maximumcontacting page number” or a “maximum value of a number of pages”) of anumber of pages that will come into contact or be superposed on eachother if the hypothetical print medium 100 is folded once about the foldlines 102A through 102D. In a case where the job 36 corresponding to thehypothetical print medium 100 is folded into a signature, the signatureis cut into folios, the folios are stitched together, and the pages arearranged in a proper sequence and oriented in the same direction.Therefore, the maximum contacting page number refers to the maximumvalue of a number of pages, which will be superposed on each other in acase where the job is folded into a signature.

In step S3 (second step), the folding trial conductor 78 reads the listof fold line candidates shown in FIG. 5 from the fold line candidateaccumulator 68 a, and attempts to fold the hypothetical print medium 100about one of the fold line candidates (fold lines 102A through 102D) ofthe list that was read. For example, the folding trial conductor 78refers to the list of fold line candidates shown in FIG. 5, and foldsthe hypothetical print medium 100 about the fold line 102A (fold line Ain FIG. 5), thereby forming a peak fold on the front side of thehypothetical print medium 100 shown in FIG. 7A.

In step S4, the folding trial conductor 78 determines whether or not thepages, which have been brought into contact with each other as a resultof the folding trial in step S3, have sequential page numbers and areoriented in the same direction. As described above, if the job 36 isfolded into a signature, the signature is cut into folios, the foliosare stitched together, and the pages are arranged in a proper sequenceand oriented in the same direction. In step S4, therefore, the foldingtrial conductor 78 determines whether or not the fold, which wasattempted in step S3, is a fold that is capable of producing asignature.

Specific details of a process of attempting to fold the front side ofthe hypothetical print medium 100 shown in FIG. 7A once will bedescribed below.

In step S3, if the front side of the hypothetical print medium 100 shownin FIG. 7A is folded about the fold line 102A in order to make a peakfold, page 1 and page 16 contact each other on the reverse side, whereaspage 8 and page 9 contact each other on the reverse side. However, page1 and page 16 do not have sequential page numbers. Therefore, thefolding trial conductor 78 determines that the fold made in such amanner is incapable of producing a signature (step S4: NO). Therefore,the control returns to step S3, and the folding trial conductor 78attempts to make another fold.

In step S3, if the front side of the hypothetical print medium 100 shownin FIG. 7A is folded about the fold line 102B in order to make a valleyfold, page 2 and page 3 on the front side contact each other, page 6 andpage 7 on the front side contact each other, page 10 and page 11 on thefront side contact each other, and page 14 and page 15 on the front sidecontact each other. The pages, which are in contact with each other ineach combination, have sequential page numbers and are oriented in thesame direction. Therefore, the folding trial conductor 78 determinesthat the fold, which was made in this manner, is capable of producing asignature (step S4: YES). Control then proceeds to step S5.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate the hypothetical print medium 100 shown inFIG. 7A, which has been folded about the fold line 102B in order to makea valley fold. FIG. 8A shows the front side, and FIG. 8B shows thereverse side after creation of the valley fold.

In step S5, the folding trial conductor 78 determines whether or not thetotal number of pages that have been placed in contact with each otherin accordance with the fold type, which was judged as affirmative instep S4, is greater than the maximum contacting page number.

Since the maximum contacting page number has been set to 0 (zero) instep S2 and the front side of the hypothetical print medium 100 shown inFIG. 7A has been folded into a valley fold about the fold line 102B instep S3, the total number of contacting pages is eight, i.e., pages 2and 3, pages 6 and 7, pages 10 and 11, and pages 14 and 15 (step S5:YES). In step S6, the folding trial conductor 78 updates the totalnumber of contacting pages used in step S5 as the maximum contactingpage number (maximum contacting page number: 0-8). Then, in step S7, thefolding trial conductor 78 temporarily registers the result of thepresent folding trial as a solution to the folding trial in anon-illustrated memory of the folding trial conductor 78.

In step S8, if the folding trial conductor 78 has not completed thetrial to fold the hypothetical print medium 100 shown in FIGS. 7A and 7Babout all of the fold lines 102A through 102D (step S8: NO), thencontrol returns to step S3, in which the folding trial conductor 78attempts to fold the hypothetical print medium 100 about any remainingfold lines.

Upon the hypothetical print medium 100 shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B beingfolded about the fold lines 102C and 102D, a result is obtained in whichtwo contacting pages do not have sequential page numbers, or thecontacting pages are oriented in different directions (step S4: NO).

On the other hand, in step S8, if the folding trial conductor 78 hascompleted the trial to fold the hypothetical print medium 100 shown inFIGS. 7A and 7B about all of the fold lines 102A through 102D (step S8:YES), then in step S9, the fold information acquirer 80 checks theinformation that has temporarily been registered in the memory of thefolding trial conductor 78.

If in steps S3 through S8, the folding trial conductor 78 has attemptedto fold the hypothetical print medium 100 about all of the fold lines102A through 102D, and assuming the result information has beentemporarily registered, then the temporarily registered information isconsidered to be information in relation to fold lines that are capableof producing a signature, i.e., information representing a solution tothe folding trial about the fold lines. The temporarily registeredinformation includes information depending on the maximum contactingpage number, as well as information depending on a page number that issmaller than the maximum contacting page number.

In step S9, from the information temporarily registered in the foldingtrial conductor 78, the fold information acquirer 80 extractsinformation depending on the maximum contacting page number as fold lineinformation, which serves as an optimum solution to the folding trialabout the fold lines (step S9: YES). In step S10 (third step), as shownin FIG. 6, the fold information acquirer 80 accumulates the extractedfold line information in the fold data accumulator 68 c.

As shown in FIG. 6, the fold data accumulator 68 c accumulates thereinthe front side that is folded about the fold lines, the numbers offolding events, the fold lines (i.e., the fold lines 102B, 102F, 102Gindicated as B, F, G in FIG. 6), the fold types (peak and valley folds),the maximum contacting page numbers (total numbers of contacting pages),and combinations of contacting pages, as a list of optimum solutions tothe folding trial about the fold lines (a list of fold line solutions).

As will be described later, since the above folding trial is carried outrepeatedly until the hypothetical print medium 100 is folded into asignature, for each number of folding events, the fold data accumulator68 c accumulates an optimum solution to the folding trial about the foldlines in the form of fold data.

In step S11, based on the list of fold line solutions in the presentfolding event (first folding event) that are accumulated in the folddata accumulator 68 c, the fold information acquirer 80 updates thegroup of pages represented by the imposition data (fold data) from thegroup of pages shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B to the group of pages shown inFIGS. 8A and 8B. As a result, the display data generator 74 generatesimage data depending on the group of pages shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, andthe display controller 64 displays an image represented by the generatedimage data on the display unit 28.

More specifically, the display unit 28 displays an image showing thehypothetical print medium 100 as updated from the state shown in FIGS.7A and 7B to the state shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, thereby indicating tothe user that the first folding event was successful. The display unit28 may display an image that allows the user to easily grasp that thefirst folding event was successful, i.e., an image that enables the userto understand that the hypothetical print medium 100 has actually beenfolded. For example, the display unit 28 may display (1) a 3D movingimage showing that the hypothetical print medium 100 has been foldedfrom the state shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B to the state shown in FIGS. 8Aand 8B, or (2) both an image corresponding to the state shown in FIGS.7A and 7B and an image corresponding to the state shown in FIGS. 8A and8B.

In step S12, the fold information acquirer 80 determines whether or notthe hypothetical print medium 100 has been turned into a signature (forone page). If the hypothetical print medium 100 has been turned into asignature, control returns to step S1, and the group of pages, which wasupdated as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, is processed again in steps S1through S11.

Therefore, the imposition data converter 72 executes steps S1 throughS12 repeatedly until the hypothetical print medium 100 is turned into asignature (for one page).

After the hypothetical print medium 100 shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B hasbeen processed in steps S1 through S12, two fold lines 102E, 102F areavailable as fold line candidates. Accordingly, the imposition dataconverter 72 performs two folding trials.

If the front side of the hypothetical print medium 100 shown in FIG. 8Ais folded about the fold line 102F in order to make a peak fold (stepS3), pages 4 and 5 are brought into contact with each other, pages 12and 13 are brought into contact with each other, and the pages areoriented in the same direction (step S4: YES). The total number ofcontacting pages is four, which is greater than the maximum contactingpage number, which was previously set to 0 (zero) in step S2 (step S5:YES). Consequently, the maximum contacting page number is updated to 4in step S6, and the result of the folding trial is temporarilyregistered as a solution to the folding trial (step S7).

If the front side of the hypothetical print medium 100 shown in FIG. 8Ais folded about the fold line 102F in order to make a valley fold, or isfolded about the fold line 102E in order to make a peak fold, or isfolded about the fold line 102E in order to make a valley fold (stepS3), then the two contacting pages do not have sequential page numbers,or are oriented in different directions (step S4: NO).

Upon the folding trial conductor 78 having completed the attempt atfolding the hypothetical print medium 100 shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B aboutall of the fold lines 102E and 102F (step S8: YES), the folding trialconductor 78 has temporarily registered therein information concerningonly the peak fold about the fold line 102F on the front side of thehypothetical print medium 100 shown in FIG. 8A (step S9: YES).Therefore, the fold information acquirer 80 accumulates the temporarilyregistered information in the fold data accumulator 68 c as fold lineinformation, which represents an optimum solution to the second foldingevent. In this manner, as shown in FIG. 6, the fold line information isaccumulated as a second fold line solution.

In step S11, based on the second fold line solution, the foldinformation acquirer 80 updates the group of pages represented by thefold data from the state shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B to the state shown inFIGS. 9A and 9B. As a result, the display data generator 74 generatesimage data depending on the group of pages shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, andthe display controller 64 displays an image represented by the generatedimage data on the display unit 28. Similar to the case of the successfulfirst folding event, the display unit 28 displays an image, which showsthe hypothetical print medium 100 as updated from the state shown inFIGS. 8A and 8B to the state shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, therebyindicating to the user that the second folding event was successful.

As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, since the hypothetical print medium 100 isnot yet turned into a signature, in step S12, the imposition dataconverter 72 makes a negative judgment (step S12: NO). Thereafter,control returns to step S1, and the group of pages that was updated inFIGS. 9A and 9B is processed again in steps S1 through S11.

Upon completion of processing of the hypothetical print medium 100 shownin FIGS. 9A and 9B in steps S1 through S12, only one fold line 102G isavailable as a fold line candidate. Therefore, the imposition dataconverter 72 carries out a third folding trial about the fold line 102G.

If the front side of the hypothetical print medium 100 shown in FIG. 9Ais folded about the fold line 102G in order to make a valley fold (stepS3), pages 8 and 9 are brought into contact with each other. The twocontacting pages have sequential page numbers and are oriented in thesame direction (step S4: YES). The total number of contacting pages istwo, which is greater than the maximum contacting page number that waspreviously set to 0 (zero) in step S2 (step S5: YES). Consequently, instep S6, the maximum contacting page number is updated to 2, and theresult of the folding trial is temporarily registered as a solution tothe folding trial (step S7). If the front side of the hypothetical printmedium 100 shown in FIG. 9A is folded about the fold line 102G in orderto make a peak fold, then the two contacting pages do not havesequential page numbers (step S4: NO).

At the time that the folding trial conductor 78 has completed itsattempt at folding the hypothetical print medium 100 shown in FIGS. 9Aand 9B about the fold line 102G (step S8: YES), the folding trialconductor 78 has temporarily registered therein only informationconcerning the valley fold made on the front side of the hypotheticalprint medium 100 shown in FIG. 9A about the fold line 102G (step S9:YES). Therefore, the fold information acquirer 80 accumulates thetemporarily registered information as fold line information in the folddata accumulator 68 c, which represents an optimum solution to the thirdfolding event. In this manner, as shown in FIG. 6, the fold lineinformation is accumulated as a third fold line solution.

In step S11, based on the third fold line solution, the fold informationacquirer 80 updates the group of pages represented by the fold data fromthe state shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B to the state shown in FIGS. 10A and10B. As a result, the display data generator 74 generates image datadepending on the group of pages shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, and thedisplay controller 64 displays an image represented by the generatedimage data on the display unit 28. Similar to the cases of thesuccessful first and second folding events, the display unit 28 displaysan image, which shows the hypothetical print medium 100 as updated fromthe state shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B to the state shown in FIGS. 10A and10B, thereby indicating to the user that the third folding event wassuccessful.

As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the hypothetical print medium 100 isturned into a signature. In step S12, the imposition data converter 72makes an affirmative judgment (step S12: YES), and the processingsequence of the imposition data converter 72 is brought to an end.

Advantages of the Embodiment

According to the present embodiment, imposition data can be convertedfrom grid data into fold data. Therefore, the user can perform variousprocesses, including an imposing process, a bookbinding process, etc.,without realizing the different types of imposition data, i.e., griddata and fold data. Since imposition data can automatically be convertedfrom grid data into fold data, such data are made compatible with eachother.

According to the present embodiment, furthermore, in a case where thefolding trial conductor 78 has attempted to fold the hypothetical printmedium 100 using the converted fold data, and has successfully foldedthe hypothetical print medium 100 into a signature, the fold informationacquirer 80 acquires the trial result as fold information of the folddata. Therefore, the jobs 36 can efficiently be folded into signaturesaccording to the acquired fold information. In other words, upon thefold data being supplied to the folding machine, the folding machine ismade capable of folding the jobs 36 automatically.

According to the present embodiment, therefore, conversion of impositiondata from grid data into fold data makes the printing and bookbindingprocesses including the job folding process more efficient. Even if griddata are generated on conventional JDF-unlinked systems, the grid datacan be acquired and converted into fold data to produce desiredsignatures from jobs.

According to the present embodiment, moreover, in the case that thehypothetical print medium 100 is folded a plurality of times into asignature, each time that a fold is made, the fold lines 102A through102G are identified about which the hypothetical print medium 100 isfolded to thereby set the total number of pages, which are superposedand have sequential page numbers, i.e., the total number of contactingpages, as the maximum contacting page number. The folding directionsabout the fold lines 102A through 102G also are identified.Consequently, the jobs 36 can reliably and efficiently be turned intosignatures based on the identified fold lines and folding directions.

In the event that the folding trial conductor 78 attempts to fold thehypothetical print medium 100 about all of the fold lines 102A through102G that are available in each folding event, it is possible toreliably identify the fold lines 102A through 102G about which thehypothetical print medium 100 can be folded, to thereby set the totalnumber of contacting pages as the maximum contacting page number, and toreliably identify the folding directions about the fold lines 102Athrough 102G.

The display unit 28 displays an image representing results of foldingtrial events, which are carried out on the hypothetical print medium 100by the folding trial conductor 78. By observing the image displayed onthe display unit 28, the user can easily grasp the results of foldingtrial events that are carried out by the folding trial conductor 78,e.g., whether the folding trial events carried out on the hypotheticalprint medium 100 have been successful and the hypothetical print medium100 can be folded into a signature.

Modifications of the Embodiment

The present embodiment is not limited to the details described above.Several changes and modifications may be made to the embodiment asdescribed below.

FIGS. 11A and 11B show an example in which imposition data cannot beconverted from grid data into fold data. It is assumed that, in animposition process performed by the user, an error is made to impose thesame page number “1” on two pages on the front side of a hypotheticalprint medium 120 shown in FIG. 11A, and to impose the same page number“2” on two pages on the reverse side of the hypothetical print medium120 shown in FIG. 11B.

On the front side shown in FIG. 11A, the hypothetical print medium 120,which simulates a job 36, has a boundary serving as a fold line 122Abetween the two pages, and two areas 124 a, 124 b representing the pageson both sides of the fold line 122A. The two areas 124 a, 124 b haverespective printing surface areas 126 a, 126 b.

On the reverse side shown in FIG. 11B, the hypothetical print medium 120has a boundary that serves as the fold line 122A between the two pages,and two areas 128 a, 128 b representing the pages on both sides of thefold line 122A. The two areas 128 a, 128 b have respective printingsurface areas 130 a, 130 b.

In step S3 shown in FIG. 3, the front or reverse side is folded aboutthe fold line 122A in order to make a peak fold or a valley fold.However, the contacting pages do not have sequential page numbers (stepS4: NO). The hypothetical print medium 120 has only one fold line 122A.

If the folding trial conductor 78 makes a negative judgment in step S4,then the fold information acquirer 80 determines that fold informationrepresenting an optimum solution to the folding trial has not beentemporarily registered in the folding trial conductor 78 (step S9: NO).Then, in step S13, the fold information acquirer 80 determines that thegrid data cannot be converted into fold data for folding the job 36 intoa signature.

Based on the judgment made in step S13, the display data generator 74generates image data, which represents a failure in converting the griddata into fold data. The display controller 64 displays an imagerepresented by the generated image data on the display unit 28. Byobserving the displayed image, the user can recognize that theimposition process is erroneous.

More specifically, the display unit 28 displays an image showing thatthe folding trial performed on the hypothetical print medium 120 by thefolding trial conductor 78 has failed. By confirming the image displayedon the display unit 28, the user can easily grasp that the hypotheticalprint medium 120 cannot be folded into a signature and that the foldingtrial has failed.

According to the present embodiment, even if trials are conducted tofold the hypothetical print medium 120, if the superposed pages do nothave sequential page numbers or are not oriented in the same direction,then it is determined that the hypothetical print medium 120 cannot befolded into a signature. As a consequence, it is possible to preventjobs 36 from being wasted on account of a failure of the folding processperformed by the folding machine.

As shown in FIG. 12A, the available grid data represent one page imposedon each of a plurality of hypothetical print mediums 140 a through 140h, which have respective areas 142 a through 142 h allocated theretoincluding respective printing surface areas 144 a through 144 h. Theprocess shown in FIG. 3 can be performed in order to convert such griddata into fold data, so that the pages can be imposed on the respectiveprinting surface areas 144 a through 144 h of a single hypotheticalprint medium 140, as shown in FIG. 12B.

Stated otherwise, imposition data for imposing a plurality of pages onrespective hypothetical print mediums can be converted into impositiondata for imposing the pages on a single hypothetical print medium.Therefore, the imposition data can easily be edited in the imposingprocess. According to the present embodiment, a plurality of pages canbe moved in the imposition data, and bleed information can be setcomprehensively by the imposition data converter 72.

According to the present embodiment, the folding trial conductor 78attempts to fold the hypothetical print medium 100 about all of the foldlines 102A through 102G that are available in each folding event.Alternatively, at the time that the fold lines and the foldingdirections for setting the total number of contacting pages to themaximum contacting page number are identified in each folding event, anyremaining trials to fold the hypothetical print medium 100 about theremaining fold lines may be canceled. In this manner, the period of timerequired to perform the imposing process including the process ofconverting the imposition data from grid data into fold data can beshortened. Such an alternative is applicable where the job 36 is foldedat the center of the sheet.

According to the present embodiment, instead of the above-describedalternative process, fold lines, folding directions, and a foldingsequence for setting the total number of contacting pages to the maximumcontacting page number may be identified comprehensively after thehypothetical print medium 100 has been folded about all of the foldlines 102A through 102G. Such an alternative also is effective to foldthe job 36 into a signature reliably and efficiently.

In the above embodiment, the imposition data shown in FIGS. 7A through12B have been described. However, the present invention is not limitedto the imposition data shown in FIGS. 7A through 12B. Various types ofgrid data, as disclosed in JDF Specification Release 1.3, may beconverted into fold data, and trials may be performed to fold jobs basedon the fold data. If the fold data are converted in this manner, thesame advantages described above can be achieved.

What is claimed is:
 1. A data generating apparatus for generatingimposition data for imposing a plurality of pages on a print medium,comprising: a fold data converter for converting grid data definingpositions of pages, page numbers of the pages, and orientations of thepages, as the imposition data, into fold data defining positions of foldlines about which the print medium is folded into a signature, foldingdirections, and a folding sequence; a folding trial conductor forattempting to fold a hypothetical print medium, which simulates theprint medium, based on the fold data, so that pages superposed byfolding the print medium have sequential page numbers and are orientedin one direction; and a fold information acquirer for acquiring a resultof folding trial events performed to successfully fold the hypotheticalprint medium into a signature, as fold information representing thepositions of fold lines about which the print medium is folded into asignature, folding directions, and a folding sequence.
 2. The datagenerating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the folding trialconductor determines that the signature cannot be produced if the pagessuperposed by folding the print medium do not have sequential pagenumbers or are not oriented in one direction in a case where the foldingtrial conductor attempts to fold the hypothetical print medium.
 3. Thedata generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: thehypothetical print medium includes the fold lines and can be folded aplurality of times about the fold lines into the signature; and thefolding trial conductor identifies positions of fold lines and foldingdirections for maximizing a total number of superposed pages havingsequential page numbers each time that the hypothetical print medium isfolded.
 4. The data generating apparatus according to claim 3, whereineach time that the hypothetical print medium is folded, the foldingtrial conductor identifies positions of fold lines and foldingdirections for maximizing the total number of superposed pages byattempting to fold the hypothetical print medium about all of the foldlines that are available, or stops trying to fold the hypothetical printmedium about remaining ones of the fold lines at the time the positionsof fold lines and folding directions for maximizing the total number ofsuperposed pages having sequential page numbers are identified.
 5. Thedata generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: thehypothetical print medium includes the fold lines and can be folded aplurality of times about the fold lines into the signature; and thefolding trial conductor attempts to fold the hypothetical print mediumabout all of the fold lines that are available, and thereafteridentifies positions of fold lines, folding directions, and a foldingsequence for maximizing a total number of superposed pages havingsequential page numbers.
 6. The data generating apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising: a trial result indicator for externallyindicating the result of folding trial events performed on thehypothetical print medium by the folding trial conductor.
 7. The datagenerating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the trial resultindicator comprises a display unit for displaying the result of foldingtrial events.
 8. A data generating method of generating imposition datafor imposing a plurality of pages on a print medium, comprising: a firststep of converting grid data defining positions of pages, page numbersof the pages, and orientations of the pages, as the imposition data,into fold data defining positions of fold lines about which the printmedium is folded into a signature, folding directions, and a foldingsequence; a second step of attempting to fold a hypothetical printmedium, which simulates the print medium, based on the fold data, sothat pages superposed by folding the print medium have sequential pagenumbers and are oriented in one direction; and a third step of acquiringa result of folding trial events performed to successfully fold thehypothetical print medium into a signature, as fold informationrepresenting the positions of fold lines about which the print medium isfolded into a signature, folding directions, and a folding sequence. 9.A non-transitory recording medium storing therein a program for enablinga computer to function as a unit for generating imposition data forimposing a plurality of pages on a print medium, the program enablingthe computer to perform functions of: converting grid data definingpositions of pages, page numbers of the pages, and orientations of thepages, as the imposition data, into fold data defining positions of foldlines about which the print medium is folded into a signature, foldingdirections, and a folding sequence; attempting to fold a hypotheticalprint medium, which simulates the print medium, based on the fold data,so that pages superposed by folding the print medium have sequentialpage numbers and are oriented in one direction; and acquiring a resultof folding trial events performed to successfully fold the hypotheticalprint medium into a signature, as fold information representing thepositions of fold lines about which the print medium is folded into asignature, folding directions, and a folding sequence.